At least 70 athletes will be using their 5th year in the 2024-2025 season. Based on SwimSwam’s knowledge, there will be more women than men using their 5th years.
This is the final season in which athletes are granted the COVID-19 fifth year after the 2020-2021 season was disrupted due to the pandemic. The 2021-2022 season allowed fifth years to go over the scholarship cap but the last two years and now this upcoming season includes fifth years in the scholarship limits.
Some of the biggest names on the women’s side include NCAA Champions Alex Walsh and Emma Sticklen. The men’s side is highlighted by NCAA Champion Destin Lasco and also includes NCAA runner-up Brian Benzing and NCAA relay champion Adam Chaney. Walsh will return to Virginia, Sticklen will return to Texas, Lasco returns to Cal, Chaney returns to Florida, and Benzing transfers to Indiana.
Rather than a lot of athletes transferring to another school, most of the programs see athletes stay at their institutions for another season.
The 5th-year-eligibility for the pandemic year loss is a terrible idea. Every swimmer who is eligible has had three years of collegiate swimming experience (assuming they stuck with their programs). Yes, it is a pity that they lost a year of competition but that’s better than the fate of the poor high school graduates who lost their chances to be part of college swim teams because the spots are taken by the 5th-years.
I don’t think the intent behind the Covid 5th year was to make up for something lost, it was supposed to be an enticement to convince athletes not to redshirt the 20-21 season. With all the uncertainty of how that year would go, and the entire Ivy League already redshirting, the NCAA was worried more athletes would sit out and they would lose a lot of money. Offering the bonus year took away the fear athletes had that they might blow a year of eligibility on a potentially lost season. I’d say it was a pretty successful idea to keep college sports alive that year and these 5th years are a small price to pay for it.
Class of 2020 (e.g. Max Rooney): “can we have please have our final NCAA meet at another time?”
NCAA: “fu no scrubs grow up”
Also NCAA: “pweez little freshman don’t make hasty decisions that’ll cost us money, have all the years you want!”
Are the other Cal men coming back for the second semester? Seems very unlike Cal to only get one guy back.
Jensen, Kopp, Rose, and Seeliger all return, plus Emily Gantriis returns on the women’s side
What about 6th years?
Doesn’t look like Jasmine Nocentini is listed on UVA roster for this season 🙁
anyone know her status?
It’s been obvious for months. None of her Instagram stories have anything to do with Virginia or swimming